Muara Sipongi, a former mission station of the Dutch Mennonites on Sumatra, opened by the missionary Nikolai Wiebe (1862-?) on 26 September 1890, three hours distant from Pakantan. The region, which was inhabited by the Ulus, "a poor, deeply deteriorated, apathetic, insensitive, and sleepy people," suffered a terrible earthquake in 1892. With a wide participation by the native population the church was dedicated in October 1895. In 1901 Wiebe was followed by Johann Thiessen, who made Muara Sipongi a main station beside Pakantan. In 1911-1927 Peter Nachtigal worked there with untiring faithfulness. In 1927 the station was turned over to the supervision of a German missionary society and was served by native workers.